Chapter 350 - Providence (3)
When a city's population becomes oversaturated, the people who fail to find a place settle, wander, then move to regions more livable.
Nature is the same.
When there are too many competitors and they can no longer secure prey, they look for another range of activity.
This is the main reason demi-humans and magical beasts move on a large scale.
The Adventurers' Guild named the occurrence of such natural calamities a "Stampede".
Of course, it isn't a common sight you'd see anywhere.
Usually, before ominous signs that could become a problem even appear, adventurers cull the numbers, as they are now forcing continuous subjugations in the Kailiens.
But if, in an unforeseen state, a Stampede were to erupt all of a sudden, what would happen?
There's nothing to ponder deeply.
A village, a town, or even a city will suffer great damage, that many casualties will occur is self-evident.
The historical records say so.
Daaang───! Daaang───! Daaang───!
The old bell, once thought only to lend antique charm, shook violently.
It was Sacrid's emergency order.
Soldiers with armor and spears rushed in haste toward the city walls.
"W-what, what is this, all of a sudden?"
"Is someone drunkenly waving a knife, or something?"
At any rate, it wasn't some kind of event.
Faces of citizens blotched with anxiety at the street's mood, so unlike usual.
And then, the iron smell, suddenly brushing the tip of the nose and filling the streets, was nothing short of ominous.
That foreboding hit the mark without the slightest miss.
"Emergency! Demi-humans and magical beasts of unknown cause are massing toward Sacrid! Evacuate the citizens and gather the soldiers! Adventurers, mercenaries, mages, everyone!"
At the middle-aged knight's voice booming across the square, the city stirred.
Following the guards' urgent guidance, those staying near the outer walls moved further inward.
A young man who had just finished prepping and stepped out of the inn tilted his head.
"Uh… why is it suddenly so noisy? Did something happen?"
"You there, you! Judging by your look you're a mercenary, what's your name?"
"Hm? Name's Romer, and I'm doing something like mercenary work, but…"
"I see. Then follow me!"
The response was swift.
It wasn't the city's own defensive capacity.
It was the result of high-rank adventurers and the Executioners of Supreme Councilor Brillen taking the initiative in command.
Leira, watching from atop the walls, spoke.
"Their numbers are considerable, but… it doesn't look like they'll breach the streets."
"R-really, Lady Leira?"
At the expert's positive analysis, Bishop Lena's expression brightened.
"If it were open country or a village, it would be dangerous, but Sacrid is a city, and it's guarded by a modern wall refurbished a few years ago, it won't crumble easily."
"I see! Ah, what a relief───"
"Of course, if that is all."
Demi-humans and magical beasts often have overlapping ranges of activity.
Therefore, killing and being killed is basic.
At times, they stop at a war of nerves over prey, or, sharing a territory, they coexist.
As such, the relationship between the two varies wildly with circumstance.
And now, the monsters gathering along the forest boundary of Sacrid were all staring at the city in unison.
Suppressing even their instincts.
Which means there must surely exist a commanding entity leading the horde.
'The packs we culled in the Kailiens were usually dozens, at most barely over the hundreds…'
But to have numbers exceeding the thousands.
What kind of existence is wholly dominating that many, she could not even guess with all the knowledge and experience she had.
However, considering the deeds of the Glory of the Dead… she could assert it was by no means a normal upper-rank entity.
Just then.
"…Huh?"
All at once, the demi-humans and magical beasts that had been holding position drew aside to the left and right.
As if they were an army.
And from between them, with regular tremors, a gigantic shadow fell.
[...]
A monster emerged from the forest.
Its general silhouette was like a bipedal hound, and the seven horns sprouting from its head looked like a crown.
By rough gauge, its shoulder height exceeded 4 meters.
"What… on earth is that?"
One of the guards atop the wall blinked as he spoke. Many heard, but no answer returned.
Because no one knew its identity.
Some, however, were different.
"Seven horns, and a body that massive… c-could it be?!"
"This is absurd…!!"
The mithril-rank adventurer party Manha nearby began to gape. Several high-rank adventurers were the same.
Even Leira could not quite hide her dismay.
"…Septa Horn."
The name recorded in the history of the Adventurers' Guild.
The moment she muttered the entity's name in a daze.
[...]
The Septa Horn's upper body pitched forward and its forepaws touched earth.
Ground split beneath its enormous weight, then, with explosive leg power, it started a solo charge straight for Sacrid's main gate.
Thoom! Thoom! Thoom! Thoom! Thoom! Thoom!
The tremors drew near.
So too did an indescribable sense of presence.
Startled out of his wits, the Guard Captain shouted by reflex.
"S-stop it! Stop it, somehow!!!!"
Arrows and magic poured down like rain.
A defensive magic circle activated and reinforced the entire wall, and the installed ballistae atop it unleashed bombardment.
KWA-aaaaang! KWA-aang!
They could not keep up with its nimble motion and most shots missed.
By luck some hit, but they failed even to scratch the hide, much less slow its speed.
Leira's blood ran cold.
If all the information recorded in the Guild's subjugation logs were true… she could clearly see what would happen to the gate in moments.
It must be stopped.
By any means.
"Wh-where are you going?!"
Leaving Bishop Lena's scream behind, Leira leapt from the wall.
She softened the fall with a smooth breakfall, then kicked off the ground.
She reinforced her body at full power.
Wreathed in crimson aura, Leira sprinted toward the Septa Horn. The red blade in her hand exuded a chilling murderous intent.
Facing her, the Septa Horn gaped its maw.
[KRROAAAAAAAR!]
A roar that rent the air to shreds.
A pressure far beyond the Roar Wolf's pulverized the ground, blasting forward in a straight line.
At the same time, Leira, bracing her legs, swung her sword straight down.
Blood Flash.
A gigantic crimson sword-ki cleaved the roar in half. The shockwaves split to either side and slammed into Sacrid's walls.
Right after, Leira spun as if sliding, regaining her stance.
To unfold martial art again.
But the Septa Horn was no mere demi-human.
Especially in the hunt, it possessed intellect surpassing that of humans.
Thoom!
In an instant acceleration, the Septa Horn thrust out its arm.
A savage clawed hand grasped down at Leira.
"…?!"
She blocked with her sword, yet was utterly overwhelmed in strength.
She tried to slip free, but it was impossible.
Still holding Leira, the Septa Horn slammed forward, colliding head-on with Sacrid's main gate.
"Lady Leira!!"
KWAaaaaaaaang!
In one blow the gate was shattered.
The impact rendered the protective magic circle meaningless.
The massive iron door crumpled, torn off whole, and hurled into the streets, reducing them to rubble. Leira too was swept along, hurled into a residence.
"T-the gate… was breached?"
The Guard Captain's hands shook, unable to believe it.
From within the dust cloud, the Septa Horn rose.
It twisted its lips, savoring the stares smeared with horror and dread all around.
[Khat. Khat. Khat. Khat. Khat.]
A chilling, mocking laugh.
Power outside the norm, a presence that instinctively inspired terror.
The history of adventurers speaks of it.
A colossal gnoll, with seven horns.
Called, the Calamity of the Forest.
Spoken of, as the Incarnation of Slaughter.
Passed down, as the King of Fear.
A gnoll's evolved entity, beyond even the highest tier, the apex.
A special entity, Septa Horn.
The mighty predator that should have appeared in the Kailiens had arrived in the Beldirn Republic, brought forth by Kessilus.
It loosed a low howl toward the sky.
At that signal, demi-humans and magical beasts waiting afar charged toward the city all at once.
"O, Luas…"
The hunt, began.
***
The words of Kessilus could not be lies.
Judging by the circumstances, it was certain he was scheming something in Sacrid.
What situation Haldirn and Leira were facing, what the monster brought from the Kailiens was, could not be known, but it would not be easily resolved.
But Verden spared not a thought for anyone else.
No matter how tangled the thoughts, there was nothing he could do here.
'My role is to deal with the Fourth Servant, Kessilus.'
The objective was clear.
What he must focus on was right before his eyes.
The Infinite Mado.
Dozens of thunder spears floated in the air, pouring like a rainstorm, exploding in chain succession.
A vast lightning strike dyed the vision blue.
'…This power is not enough.'
Judging from the battle thus far, Kessilus's realm was upper 6th-tier.
To pierce that solid elemental resistance, to kill him again and again, was extremely difficult.
No matter how strong Verden was, he could not ignore the force imbued in high-grade black magic.
To underestimate.
The cost of carelessness was fatal.
'The Mado of Kessilus, resurrecting from death.'
That it was special, he acknowledged.
Each time he revived, his magic and power grew stronger and vaster still.
It would not be exaggeration to call it the most vexing ability in prolonged combat.
'But, in the end, there is a limit.'
Kessilus's lives were not infinite.
From that perspective, Verden thought deeply, and two effective methods to kill him more surely came to mind.
The first among them, incapacitation.
───!
Without hesitation, Verden closed in.
Orient traced a dazzling trajectory, then suddenly accelerated.
"Close combat. Indeed, in a mage's battle, that way is easiest to seize a life. For you, and for me,"
From Kessilus's bracelet, a sinister pulse arose.
The artifact [Form of Grudge].
The converted mana took the shape of a weapon imbued with curse.
From Kessilus's back, two arm-bones stretched out, gripping firmly grotesque blades that dripped with darkness.
CLAAAANG!
A horrid metallic scream rang out.
At once, the cursed arms, moving independent of Kessilus, clashed with Verden's elements.
Repeated impacts.
The clash of the two devastated the surrounding area.
In that time, Kessilus died twice, and revived again, grasping his ancient staff in both hands.
"Recall, the grudge."
At the artifact's command phrase, [Form of Grudge] responded.
Darkness shot up along the staff in an instant, becoming a colossal scythe.
Whooong───
With a single swing, all things before it began to warp.
Plants, earth, air, even human flesh.
But in the midst, Verden's twisting body vanished like an afterimage.
"…A clone?"
Kessilus, rarely, was taken aback.
Never had he imagined his eyes could be deceived by a mere mana construct.
But when he realized it, it was already too late.
Wind brushed his skin.
At the same time, murderous aura gleamed, and Kessilus's limbs were torn apart.
Even the two arm-bones formed of Mado failed to react, shattered utterly.
"?!"
He fell to his knees, eyes wide.
If one can become lightning, one can also become wind.
The
"..."
The wind that had filled the surroundings all gathered, forming a small storm.
From within it, Verden emerged.
'The limbs are bound.'
Of course, it would only last for a moment.
Kessilus had countless ways to destroy his own heart, or otherwise end his life, to restore his body anew.
He did not think for a moment that such would suffice to suppress him.
What Verden aimed for was that infinitesimal time when Kessilus was stripped of means to resist.
The real thing, began now.
Fwaaaah.
Mana surged, fiercely raging.
Verden's Mystic Eye glinted, and he thrust forth Orient.
Comet, Rarenia.
Celestial Magic, the second star,
"Damned…!"
The torrent of the Milky Way poured down upon Kessilus.
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